Car roof



W. WRIGHT CAR ROOF Jan. 1 1927. v. 1,614,334

' ,Filed Jan. 9 1924 7 Sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 11 1927.

w. WRIGHT CAR ROOF Fi led Jan.

W. WRIGHT can ROOF .Eiled Jan. 9. 1 4 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A- gaiggl a;- "ll!!! M a M 39 1 .WVW

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

warren- H PATENT F-"F" "1c E WILL-1AM wmen'r'g'on'ofitofleo flrmrnotsi A'SSIGLiOR; nYMlEsNE-nssIeNMENTs, T0

oHIeAGoeL-Ev'mann CAR noonrne coMP ANY; on CHICAGO,- ILLINoI's, A conr'oRATroN 01 DELAWARE can noon.

Application filed January 9, an; Serial n6. 685,248.

The invention relates to freight car roofs and more particularly to roots o't rigid'allmetallic construction, and has for itsob jects to provide a sheet metal roof which when assembled andapplied'to a car, results in a rigid unitary structure which-is not susceptible ot longitudinal or lateral: shitting ni'oven'ient relative to the ear and which is secured to the car in such manner as to provide a stron'gand rigid reinforcing structure for the upper portion of the car training.

iet'urther object of the invention resides in the provision of a rigid metallic roof which may be conveniently assembled and which in its assembledarrangement combines with the cartraining to provide a rigid liiritarystructure.

A tnrther-objectof the invention is to provide a rigid water-tight roofing structure In the accompanying drawings, "forming a part of this specification, and showing; for

purposes of excmplitication, a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practised, but without limitingthe claimed invention specifically to such lllustrated instance or 111- stances:

Fig. 1 is a'top plan viewot'a car root illustratingn preferred embodiment of the invei'rtion, portions ot the same being-broken away.

view on line 22 of Fig- 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of detail sectional view on line m m s line 19 Fig. 7 is an enlargedvertical'sectional view' 'throngh one of the intermediate um brella belts or root'cla'mp' ca'stings on line 77,-0f'Figl 1.

F ig. 8 is an el'ilarged'view in'side ele-' vation' of one of the running board umbrella belts "or roof clamp castings and showing the manner of' attachment of the running" boards thereto.

Fig, 9 is a top plan View of" one of the end root sheets. I

Fig. 10 is aside View of the sa'n1e.

Fig. his a transverse sectional view on line l1l1 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 121s a top 'plan'view of one'ofthe intermediate roof sheets.

Fig. 13 is anansverse sectional view on line 1313 ofFigJ 12.

Fig. His a top-plan View of one of the seam caps.

Fig. 15 is a side" viewof the same.

Fig 16 is a transverse sectional View on line; 161(i of Fig. 14. V

Fig. 17 isan enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken" at the eaves portion 4 ot'th'e i oo'fandincluding an'intern'ledi'ateumbrella bolt or root clamp" casting, and" illustrating an alternate" or modified con'-' struction ocarrange'inent,

Fig; 18 "is an' enlarged" view of a portion'of the structure 'shown'in Fig. 17 and showing more in detail the modified ar rangementl I Fig. 19' "is a horizontal sectional view on 19 'oiiFig'. 18.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through a modified "form of intermediate unibrellabolt'or rootclainp cast in g.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view somewhat similar to Fig; 20 and illustrating an alternate or modified roof construction.

Fig. 22 is a'sectionalview througlfthe l eaves portion of one o'lthe'roo'l' sheets, simi Fig. 2 1s a transverse vertical sectional lar to F lg. 17, and illustrating thearrai'ige ment, of the alternate" construction shown in Fig. 21.

Refrrii'ig to the dravving's. the upper part of the carbod'y' training," which is'the supporting frame for the roofl comprises side plates which may be of Z bar cross'section, each side'plate'jhaving a vertical longi tudinal' web 1 and an inwardly extending till substantially horizontal top flange or web 2 and being adapted to support the eaves portions of the earlines and roof sheets, the said car-lines being secured to the vertical webs 1 of the side plates. These side plates are united at the ends of the car by the usual end plates 3 (Fig. (i) which may be ol any suitable character and are preferably arched from side plate to side plate across the car to conform to the curve of the rooting structure.

At suitable intervals along the side plates 1 are arranged carlines 6 which are arched across the ridge, from side plate to side plate. Each earline is of channel-bar construetion and U-shaped in cross section (Figs. 7 and 20), and consists of vertical webs or flanges 7, a base connecting web 8, and laterally extending top webs 10 projecting horizontally from the tops of the vertical webs 7. At their eaves ends the carlines are provided with flared horizontal flanges which terminate in downwardly projecting end flanges or webs 11 bolted or riveted to the side plates 1 by bolts or rivets 12 (Figs. 2, 17, and 22.) .The horizontal flanges at the ends of the carlines are adapted to lie closely beneath the top horizontal flanges 2 of the side plates.

The carlines (S are or may be die-forn'ied of one integral piece of sheet metal, being pressed into the permanent form shown. The carlines 6 have their top webs 10 depressed at intervals therealong to form reinforcing portions or recesses 13, to the under side of which depressions are bolted o1 riveted at 1 1, the corresponding depressed ends of the longitudinally extending purlins 15. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7 the latter are preferably arranged in sections, one section of each longitudinal series being secured by the bolts or rivets l lbetween pairs of carlines 6.

The structure above described supports a plurality of intermediate and end roof sheets 16 and 16 respectively which extend in side by side relation transversely of the car. The construction is preferably such that one roof sheet is provided to span the space between each pair of the carlines 6 and at their sides the intermediate roof sheets are bent or flanged upwardly and thence downwardly to provide close fitting reinforcing side flanges 17. Each of the end roof sheets 16 are provided with one upwardly and downwardly turned reinforcing side flange 17, the opposite sides of the end roof sheets being downturned as at 18 to be secured as by bolts or rivets 19 to the end plates 8 (Fig. 6). At the meeting points between each of the roof sheets and above each of the carlines (3, seam caps 20 are provided and are adapted to overlie and closely fit against the reinforcing side flanges 17 of the roof sheets, said seam caps 20 being provided with lower laterally extending horizontal side flanges or web portions 20 adapted to rest upon and to be clamped tightly against the roof sheets. At suitable intervals therealong the seam caps 20 are provided with perforations or apertures 21 for the reception of clamping unibrella bolts or roof clamp castings 22 formed with integral overhanging cap portions 23 adapted to be clamped closely against the vertical side flanges of the seam caps 20 to form a water-tight closure (Fig. 17). Each of the castings 22 is provided with a downwardly extending cylindrical portion 2 1 having an intermediate reinforcing apertured web 25 and a pair of lower transversely spaced reinforcing webs 26. The latter are suitably recessed as at 27 and are adapted to receive and hold against rotation therebe tween the squared head 28 of the clamping bolt 29. The cal-lines 6 are provided at intervals therealong with apertures 30 corresponding in their spaced relation with the apertures 21 of the seam caps 20 and through which apertures 30 the clamping bolts 29 are adapted to extend. Nuts 31 are threaded onto the lower extremities of the bolts 29 and when assembled securely draw the castings 22 down towards the 'carlines 6. The castings 22 as a result are clamped firmly against the seam caps 20 and flange portions 17 of the roof sheets forming a secure, rigid and watertight union of the several elements de scribed.

The roof clamp castings 22 which are located centrally of the roof sheets and be neat-h the running board are provided with upstanding preferably integral flanged web portions 32 (Fig. 8) which are apertured to receive bolts or rivets 33 by means of which the roof clamp castings are secured to the running board saddles 34. The latter in turn are secured by belts or rivets 35 to the running board 36. At their eaves edges the roof sheets 16, 16 are downturned as at 37 over the vertical flange; 1 of the side plates to insure against the admission of water and foreign matter to the space between the roof sheets and side plates and to the interior oi the car. The seam caps at their eaves portions are downturned as at 38 to lie closely against the downturned eaves portions or flanges 37 of the roof sheets. By the assembly described there results a rigid and watertight roofing structure, so combined with the upper portion of the car framing as to effectually withstand longitudinal and trans verse strains or shifting movements, without sacrificing any of the frame supporting, weight resisting and water-excluding qualities which are desirable and necessary in a roof construction of this character.

Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive illustrate a slightly modified or alternate form of construction of the seam flanges at the edges of the roof sheets. As illustrated in these figures jecting through the apertures in said seam caps, said castings having an overhanging portion aoapted to embrace said seam caps and clamp the same against the seam flanges of said rooi sheets, and n'ieans carried by said castings and cooper; ting with said carlines to rigidly clamp the seam flanges of said roof sheets between said sean'i caps and said castinggs, and to rip-idly clamp the edge portions of said root sheets between the web portions of said seam caps and the web portions of said (airlines.

(3. in a car rooi in combination: a root frame, comprising side plates, arched carliues secured at their eaves ends to said side plates, said carlines having laterally extending web portions, root sheets formed with seam flanges and supported by the web portions ot said ear-lines, siain caps embracing the seam flanges of said rooi sheets, and

means for rigidly clamping said seam capsagainst the seam flanges o said root sheets, said clamping means having portions adapted to rigidly clamp said seam caps and Said root sheets against the laterally extending web portions of said carlin 7. A car root comprising side plates, arched carlines secured at their eaves cues to said side plates, said carlineg having laterally extending web portions, root sheets adapted to be supported by the laterally e:-;- tending web portions of said carlines and having reinforced seam flanges their side edges, seam caps embracing the adjacent seain flanges 0t said root sheets and having apertures therein, rool' clamp castings disposed between said root sheets and projecting through the apertures in said seam caps, said root clamp castings being adapted to be brought into clamping engagement with said "in caps, and means for clamping said castings aga'nst said seam caps to press said root sheets against the supporting web portions ot said carlines and to bind the seam flanges of the root sheets between said seam caps and said clamp castings.

8. A car roof comprising side plates, arched oar-lines secured at their eaves ends to said side plates, said carlines having laterally extending web portions, roof sheets adapted to be supported by the laterally extending web portions oi said carlines and having reinforced seam flanges along their side edges, seam caps embracing the adjacent seam flanges of said roof sheets and having apertures therein, root clamp castings disposed between said roof sheets and projecting through the apertures in said. seam caps, said roof clamp castings being adapted to be brought into clamping engagement with said seam caps, and means cooperating with said carlines tor clamping said castings against said seam caps to rigidly secure said root sheets against said seam caps to rigidly secure said roof sheets against the support ing web portions of said carlines and to bind the seam flanges of the root sheets between said seam caps and said clamp castings.

9. A roofing structure comprising side plates, carlines extending from side plate to side plate and secured at their eaves ends thereto, purlins extending longitudinally of? the roofing structure and secured to said carlines, root sheets formed with seam flanges overlying and supported by said earlines and said purlins, seam caps enclosing the seam flanges of said root sheets, clamp castings engaging said seam caps and cooperating with said carlines to rigidly secure said seam caps and said root sheets to said car-lines, and means for clamping said castings in engagement with said seam caps and said root' sheets.

10. A roofing structure comprising side plates, carlines having laterally extending web portions arched from side plate to side plate and secured at their eaves ends thereto, the web portions of said carlines being provided at intervals therealong with corrugated or recessed reinforcing portions, purlins extending longitudinally of the roof ing structure and secured at their ends to the recessed portions of the c-arline webs, roof sheets formed with seam flanges supported by said cal-lines and purlins, seam caps embracing the seam flanges of said root sheets and having laterally extending web portions overlying said roof sheets, said seam caps being provided with apertures, roof clamp castings projecting through said apertures in said seam caps and extending between said root sheets and adapted to embrace said seam caps to firmly clamp the latter against the seam flanges of said roo'l sheets, and clamping means carried by said root clamp castings and cooperating with said car-lines to clamp said castings and said seam caps against the seam flanges of said roof sheets and to clamp the web portions of said seam caps down upon said rooi sheets and upon the web portions of said carlines.

11. A rooting structure comprising side plates, canines extending from side plate to side plate and secured at their eaves ends thereto, said carlines having laterally extending web portions, root sheets supported by the laterally extending web portions of said carlines. said root sheets having at their side edges upwardly and downwardly extending integrally formed reiiiforcing seam flanges, seam caps overlyingand closely embracing the opposed reinforced seam flanges of said root sheets, said seam caps having laterally extending web portions adapted to rest upon said roof sheets, root clamp castings having depending reinforcing wall portions overlying and closely embracing said seam caps. and means for clamping said roozt' clamp castings downwardly upon said seam er ps to bind the same firmly against the re ilt 'ntorced seam flanges of said roof sheets, said clamping means serving further to rigidly clamp said roof sheets between said laterally extending web portions of said carlines and said laterally extending web por tions of said ream caps.

12. A rooting structure comprising side plates, carlines arched from side plate to side plate and secured at their eaves ends thereto, said carlines being of substantially U-shaped channel construction and having opposed integrally formed vertical web portions terminating in laterally extending web portions, root sheets supported by the later ally extending web portions of said carlines and upturned attheir side edges to closely lit. against the said verti :al web portions of the carlines, seam caps embracing and closely [itting against the adjacent seam flanges of said roof sheets, said seam caps being apertured and provided at their side edges with laterally extending web portions adapted to be clamped tightly against said root sheets and tightly clamp the same between said laterally extending web portions and the laterally extending web portions of said carlines, and root' clamp castings carried by said seam caps and projecting through the said apertures thereof, said root clamp castings having downwardly projecting portions adapted to nest within the U-shaped channels of said carlines and having overhanging portions adapted to engage said seam caps above the seam flanges of said root sheets, and said clamp castings being adapted to cooperate with clamping means secured to said car-lines and said roof clamp castings for drawing said castings downwardly toward said carlines to rigidly clamp said seam caps down upon the seam flanges of said roo't' sheets and the laterally extending web portions of said seam caps down upon the laterally ex- "ending web portions oi? said carlines.

13. A car root comprising carlines having late ally extending web portions, roof sheets adapted to be supported by the laterally extending web portions of said carlines and having seam flanges along their side edges, seam caps embracing the adjacent seam flanges oi said roo't' sheets and having apertures therein,

root clamp castings disposed between said root sheets and projecting through the apertures in said seam caps, said root clamp castings being adapted to be brought into clamping engagen'ient with said seam caps, and means cooperating with said carlines tor clamping said castings against said seam caps to bind said root sheets between and in. contact with said seam caps and the supporting web portions of said cal-lines, the seam flanges of the roof sheets being received between said seam caps and said clamp castings.

14. A car roof structure embodying roof framing members, root sheets formed with seam flanges and overlying and supported by said members, a plurality of scam caps respectively enclosing adjacent flanges of neighboring roof sheets, and a plurality of means for causing said caps to press'downwardly against neighboring root sheets adjacent a flange of the latter, each of said means being interposed between a framing member and one of said seam caps and having spaced portions between which said seam flanges extend and are clamped.

15. A car roof structure embodying carlines, roof sheets overlying and supported by said car-lines and provided with seam flanges, seam caps respectively housing the neighboring flanges of adjacent roof sheets, and a plurality of means for causing said caps to press downwardly against neighboring root' sheets adjacent a flange of each of the latter, each of said means being operatively interposed between a carline and a seam cap adjacent thereto and being provided with spaced portions between which proximate seam flanges extend and are clamped.

16. A car roof structure embodying roof framing members, root sheets overlying and supported by said members and having seam flanges, a plurality of seam caps enclosing proximate flanges of adjacent root sheets, and a plurality of means for securing said caps to said framing members, each of said means being operatively interposed between a framing member and one of said seam. caps and having spaced portions be tween which proximate seam flanges extend and are clamped.

17. A car roof structure embodying carlines, root sheets formed with seam flanges and overlying said car-lines, seam caps overlying the seam flanges of adjacent roof sheets and a plurality of means cooperating with the seam caps for pressing said rootsheets down 'ardly toward said cal-lines, each of said means being positioned between adjacent flanges of proximate root sheets and having lateral overlapping engagement with the neighboring carline below the plane of said root sheets.

18. A car roof structure embodying carlines, root sheets overlying and supported by said carlines, seam caps overlying the edges of adjacent roof. sheets and a plurality of means cooperating with the seam caps for pressing said sheets down 'ardly toward said carlines, each of said means being interposed between adjacent edges ot' proxin'iate roof sheets and being adapted to receive the shear force induced between said sheets and an adjacent carline when said sheets tend to shift longitudinally of the car.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

WILLIAM \VRIGI-IT,

zen

I so 

